Automatic cloth-measuring and price-calculating machine.



WITNESSE @SMM ATTORNEYS R. H. SHEPPB, H. H. BATON @L C. D. ALLEN. A. L. SHBIPE, ADMINISTRATBX OI R. H. SHEPPE, DEGD. 'AUTOMATIC GLOTH MEASUPNG AND PRGE GALGULATlNG MAGHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED 191213.25, 1910. 997,942 Patented July 11,1911. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

Patented July 11, 1911.

n, ADllnIIsTM'111.1X of E. H. enzym, DBG'D. -H MEASUBING AND PRIGE GALGULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.25,1910.

R. H.' SHEPPE, H. H. EATN & D. ALLEN.

L. SHE? AUTommG oLoT 997,942.'

UNITED STATES PATENT oiiiiioii..

nomia-TH. SHEPPE, OF BIGSTONE Gar, HUGH H. EATON, 4or BRISTOL, AND CLIFFORD ALLEN', OF MEADOWVIEW, VIRGINIA; A. L.1 SHEPPE ADMINISTBATBIX 0F SAID l normar H. SHEPPE, DiicEesnD.

AUTOMATIG' cIioTH-MEASURING AND PRICEOALOULATING MACHINE,

To all tv'hom mag/.conceiva- Be it known that. we, ROBERT Siiiirrii, Hoon H. EATON, andl CLIFFORD D. ALLEN, citizensof the United Statesfaiid residents, respectively, of Big Stone Gap, in the county'nii` Wise ahd State of Virginia, of

Bristol, iii-the county of Washington and State of`Vir niafand of Meadowview, in

i the count-y o -V-ash'ii'igton and State of Virginia, have invented anew and Improved Automatic Cloth-Measuring and Price-Cal- Aculating Machine, of which t-he following is --a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to anew and iinproved device for. measuring thenumber of yards of clothsold,` and at the same time calculating'the toal cost of the same.

' An object of this invention is to provide a device-which; will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong,

vvdurable, and simple, automatic and accu-, rate in its'operation. v I

" A-further object of this invent-ion is to :provide a device in which any number ofv yards of cloth,` within reasonable limits, can be automatically registered, andthe price "thereof" simultaneously exposed' to view,

with means forautomatically returning the device to its Original position.

These and further obgects, 'together with the construction and combination of parts,

will bev more fully describedhereinafter and particularly set forth-in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, in'whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,and in which- Figure 1'- isa top plan View; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3 is la transverse. vertical section; Fig. 4 is a `transverse vertical section, looking in the direction opposite to that in Fig. 3, showingthe actuating member in,its abnormal, depressed position; Fig'. 5 is a transverse vertical section similar to Fig. 4, with the actuating `member in its normal, raisedA position; and Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section showing the automatic spring return mechanism.`

Referring lmore vparticularly to the separate parts ofthe device, l indicates a support, preferablylocated beneath the counter, which is adaptedto support in any suit- Specication of Letters Patent Patented July 11, 1911. l Application filed February 25, 1910. Serial No. 545,819. I

ablemaniier, a casing 2, in which is located the mechanism for counting the number of yards and calculatng the price thereof. The casing 2 is provided witha cover 3, secured 4to 'the casing 'or support in any suitable .the side. The shaft 10 rotatably supports,' -intermediate the posts 8, acylinder 14,

which is spaced apartfroin one of the posts 8 by ineans of an'adjustable collar 11.

once being adjusted, one of the posts 8 is provided with openings, which are adapted to be brought into alincnient with openings in the shaft 10, so as to forni suitable locking sockets for a locking pin 1Q. The opposite end of the .shaft `l() is held from jumping out of the open-sided bearing by means of a latch '13, which is pivotally secured to one of the posts 8 in any well- Iny order that the shaft 10 'may not rotate afterknown manner, and is adapted to engageA the shaft l0 in such,a manner as to aid in preventing the rotation thereof.

.Secured to the end of the cylinder 14 in any well known manneigas by means of screws 15, there is provided a ratchet gear 1G, which is provided with a cavity 17, with- .iirwliich is located a casing 18, secured to thegeai' 16 in any well known manner, as

Vby heilig formed integral therewith. Tithin the casingv 18,. there is provided a spiral spring 20, which is secured at one end to the.

casing 18, and at the opposite end to the shaft 10 in any well known manner.- It will thus be seen that the coil spring 20 will pei'- mit relative movement of the cylinder 14 with respect to the shaft 1.0, but will tend automatically to return theni to their origi-' nal relativepositions. In order to rotate the cylinder' 14 relative tothe shaft 10, there is, provided an actuating member 21, which eX- tends through an opening 2Q, in the cover 3, and is provided with a key Q3 of sufficient extent to form a surface which can be readily engaged by a yard-stick or other measuring device. The actuator 21 extends in any adjusted position.

down intojthe casing 2, and is slidingly connected .to'one of the posts 8 by means of a plurality. of screws 24, which engage slotsj25 in the actuating member 21, and are' separated therefrom b any suitable frictionreducing means, suc as washers 26.`

Secured to thev actuating member 21 in any well known manner, as by being formed integral therewith, there -is provided a bracket 27, on which 'is secured a pin 28.

The pin 28is engaged by a spring 29, which is secured in any, well-known manner to one of the posts 8, as by means of b'eing inset into a-socket thereimand further, by means of a fastener 30. Juxtaposed to the; spring 29 and pivotally secured to the same post 8 in any. well known manner, as by means of ascrew 31, there is provided a regulating cam 32, which is adapted to abut against the spring 29 and regulate the tension thereon and also regulate the position of the actuating member 21 with relation 'to the post 8. The cam32 is provided with au outwardlyextending linger 433, whereby it may be readily operated, and is also provided with a slot'34, which-is engaged by a locking screw 35, whereby the cam 32 may be locked The actuating member 21 is also provided with another lug 36, which has secured thereon in any well known manner a pin 37, which engages a slot 38 in a bell crank lever 39. The bell crank lever 39 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the same post 8, and

` pivotally supports in any well known man-V ner, as by means of'a pin 40, a pawl 41. The pawl'41 is adapted to 'engage at its .active end with the teeth of the ratchet gear 16, and is provided with a counterweight'42 at -its opposite end for the purpose of normally holding it in engagement with the ratchet teeth.` I.

Pivotally supported on the pawl 41, ad-

ljacent the active point thereof, there is pro '.vided a link 43,'which has a slot 44 therein,

whereby it engages a pin on a detent 46 i l in a slidingly pivoted manner. lThe detent 46 is adapted to engage at its iactive end 47 with the ratchet gear 16,v andis forced into' engagement therewith by means of acounterweight 48 at its opposite end, wherehay it. automatically locks the' ratchet gear'iG in anyadjusted position'. Inorder thatl the cylinder 14 may be prevented from rotating more than a .complete revolution, and in order thatlthi-s cylinder,

y I. when urged to return by the spring 20,'will come back to a'predeternrined point, thereis provided on the same end of thecylinder to which'the ratchet gear 16 is secured, a stop a stop-engaging member 50, whichprojects eng ge with the stop 49, so as to "limit" the rota ion of the cylinder 14 .in either direc tion.

The surface of the cylinder 14, una-'suitable shell secured to the cylinder, is divided into spaces 5l by means of lines ,52 corre# sponding toelements of the cylinder, and circular lines 58 extending'at right-angles to the lines 52. In the spaces at the extremev left of the cylinder and to the'l left of the first circular line 5,2, starting with a space 54,

there areinscribed characters, running from one to any suitable limit, such as ifty, which are for the purpose of indicating the number of yards measured at one sale. The plate 6 closing the opening 5 for-thecover 3 is dividd into spaces of the same width as the spaces L" on the cylinder 14, and these spaces are .arranged in alinement with the spaces on the cylinder 14, and are' further designated by suitable numbers whichjndicate the Various prices of different` lengths which it may be necessary to' measure, in a successively increasing. manner extending from left to right. The prices, as given on the drawings, run from one cent to one dollar, with various common, intermediate prices,

even in fractions of a cent, where it is cuS- tomary to sell cloth at those prices.

Extending to the right of the numeral 1 inscribed in the' space 54 on the cylinder' v14, the spaces are suclcssively iilled with numerals corresponding tothe numerals of the price-list on the glass platey 6. To the right of'leach of'the other spaces, in peripheral alinement with the space 54, there mentare products of the numberindicated lat the extreme leftA of the series times the price per lyard as indicated on` the plate 6- l' for. the corresponding spacesf The cylinder 14 thusforms a combined` memory tablet and multiplication'or ,calculating table. The operation of the device will be. readily1 understood when taken 'fin connection with the vabove description. The mechanism is located on the supportv 1' belowthe' counter, wherefthe'clerk can readily' measure-off the goods from 4aubolt. of cloth;V

The ,yard-stick is superposedf with" one end above. the key 23, wandthe;` goodsdrawn through and measuredwith] the-.yard-stick; .and at tlie "end of each measurement, thekey 23 is depressedby the yard-stick orfbyany. other suitablemeans, so thatfit advances the' ratchet gear 16-one tooth, which corresponds to one of the spaces on thecylinder 14,'-at- Xie the same time winding up thejspring 20:

from the sidethereof a suicient distance to The yard-stick itself, however, -mayfbe done? aivay with, and a mark one yard vtrom the center of'thc key indicated in any suitable manner on thecounter, and then the machino` can be. used by drawing .the cloth through the hands, ltouching the mark with the right hand, and the key with the' left hand, then shifting-the right hand, graspin onto the cloth Aat the poi'ntV .Where the le t hand had held it, and again placing the right hand on the mark and the left hand on the key, depressing the key and recordingthe measured yards. There will thus be brought up'successively the number of yards as measured oli from the bolt of goods, and they will appear in juxtaposition .to the opening 5 in the cover 3, ivherethey can readily be seen bythe clerk. lVhen the exact number of yards has been measured off which the-customer desires, the clerk can,

by referring to the price-list on the plate 6,

and the price vindicated on the cylinder in` juxtaposition to this price-list, determine the total cost of that number of yards at that particular price.

. Inasmuch as the mechanism positively registers each time it is operated, the clerk does not have to depend on his memory to tcll how many yards he has measured ofi'. After the sale of goods, when it is desired to return the mechanism to its original position with the space 54 containing the numeral 1 in juxtaposition to the transparent plate G, the key7 23 is raised above its normal, raised position, thereby drawing up the actuating member 21, thus releasing both ot the paxvls 41 and 46 from engagement with the ratchet gear 16,' thereby permitting the spring'QO to uncoil, rotating the cylinder 14 and returning it toits original position.

Inasmuch as the cylinder 14 is with a stop 49, the exact location o the cylinder on its return'. will be obtained. A bell canbe connected 'up to the mechanism so as to sound as each yard is registered.

' By adjusting the tension on the spring 29 with the aid offthe cam-adjuster 32, -the force with which the pawl'41 and the detent f 46 engages the ratchet gear 16 can be va- Athe mechanism operates.

ried, thereby varying the ease with which v lVhile We 'have shown one embodiment of our invention, We do not wish to be limitedy to the specific deftails disclosedherein, but desire to be pro- .tected in various changes-and modifications which `We may make Wit-hin the scope of the appended claims. j

-Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l 1.` In a -device of the class described, the combination with a support, of a .cylinder rotatably connected to -said support and havgea secured to said cylinder, an actuating paWl engaging Sald ratchet gear, an actuat- Provided' Ying 'member adapted Vto. operate said pawl,

a detent for said `ratchet gear, a spring for holding said actuating member in a normal mid position and adapted topermit amovement of said actuating -member to either side mid positionand adapted .to permit a movement of'saidactuating member to either side .of said normal mid position, the movement of said actuating member in one direction advancing said cylinder, and in the other direction releasing said cylinder, and means for regulating the tension on said spring, comprising a cam arranged in juxtaposition to said spring and adapted to 'place said spring under tension.

. 3. `In a device of the class described, the combination with a support, ofa shaft connected to said support, a cylinder rotatably secured to said shaft. and .having characters thereon, a ratchet gear secured to said cylinder, a pawl engaging said ratchet gear andv adapted to rotate the Same, an actuating member adapted to operate said pawl, a spring adapted to hold said actuating member in a normal mid osition, a detent for said` ratchet gear, and) a spring secured to Vsaid shaft at one end and to said ratchet gear at its other end, the movement of said actuating member in one direction advancing said cylinder, and in the other direction releasing said cylinder.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination With a support, of a shaft connected to said support, a cylinder rotatably secured to said shaft and having characters thereon, a ratchet gear secured to said cylinder, a paWl engaging said ratchet gear and adapted to rota-te the same, an actuating member adapted to operate vsaid pawl, a spring adapted to hold said actuating member in a normal mid position, ahdetent forof said normal mid position, the'movementf holding said actuatingfmember in a normal id `casing'having n openingjherein. a .mesur` for said openin having characters inscribed thereon", a sha t connectedto.t said casing', a cylinder rotatablysupported .on sani "shait''and having Achfuacters thereon scripted* to be'V broughtl -into juxtaposition said characters on said closure', 1 actuator for cylinder, havin" 'a' portion. thereof-extending, above sai cover and 'adapted .toibemoved to either side of a noral mid lio'si'tiom .and'jfafsprin s'ecuredtov said'shaft-'at' one 'end and'to sai cylinder vat .the othergjend' end adapted to ret-urn said cylinder'ft'o itsoriginal position.

' comhinacnjwith ay rotatable cylinder hawI I In a --f d evice of 'fthe class described, theingch'arrciers inscribed thereonjof 'a ratchet lgear 'secured to said cylinder, a pawl engagg said; ratchet gear to.'advance thes'ame, l t a dtient-for 'said .ratchet gear, an actuator s --jadapted to operatesaid ,pawl toA advance 1 another direction.-

LIn .adevice of the class-described, thej A(icl-viel 'of this-patent' may obtainedjor Afive cents each; by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents.

Washington, D. G.

and. means for returnngsaid ratchet a.

ear to its. origina1"po sition, said actuator i ving.vl adapted to releasesaid pawl and said detent simultaneously by a movement Il i. 99175943@ so l .for holding said actuating member in a normal mid position, adapted to permit movement. of said actuating member. to either side 0f said n'ormal 'mid position, the movement fo'said actuating member in one direction advancingf'said cylinder, and in the other direction releasing said cylinder.

- In ,testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specificationin theipresence Aof the subscribing witnesses.

' ROBERT-H. SHEPPE.

HUGH H. EATON.

i CLIFFORD D. ALLEN.

Witnesses 'to' the signature of vRobert H.

AM. B. CARTER.

- -Witnesses to the signatures of Hugh H.

Eat-on and'Cliord' D. Allen: v

' v C. F. HOGAN,

.- R. W. KELLY. 

